<p>Ah, Del Mar. Maybe someone needed money for the races!</p>
<p>Many department stores, including Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, and some larger restaurants ask if you want the credit/debit transaction processed in pounds, U.S. dollars or Euros. In these instances, I always asked for American dollars - current bank exchange rate, plus no fee.</p>
<p>^^^That’s interesting, Gourmetmom. My credit card company told me that THEY will charge me a 3% conversion fee-but if it’s processed in USD, I wonder if they would have to waive that or even if it would be flagged for a fee to begin with.</p>
<p>My mom and her sisters tried using travelers checks on their cross country US road trip last fall. None of the young clerks even knew what they were.</p>
<p>Just went over my cc statements from my UK trip this summer. Transactions processed in dollars have no extra fees … and the exchange rate was decent. Harrods is awesome!</p>
<p>you get a good exchange rate when using a credit card. Capital One and one other company (don’t remember the name right now) are the only credit cards that don’t charge foreign fees. Capital One also eats the additional 1% processing fee charged by Visa for foreign purchases. I love my Capital One No Hassle Rewards card!</p>
<p>Went to the UK and Ireland in 2003, used our Capital One card for most purchases and had several ATM transactions – absolutely NO problem whatsoever. Zero, zip, nada.</p>
<p>AmEx (and other providers) charge a pretty hefty commission on Travelers’ checks (I’m thinking in the range of 3-5%, IIRC) , plus they are getting hard to use these days, plus you get a crappy exchange rate if you can find a place that takes them.</p>
<p>^^^^^I would probably not use traveler’s checks for purchases; if I did go that route (bringing traveler’s checks), I’d just cash them at the London Amex office. What I haven’t determined is if that gives any benefit over credit cards. I don’t have the no fee credit card, so I’m stuck with 3% fee per transaction, and a hefty fee for my debit card.</p>
<p>I’ve also never had a problem with my debit card in Europe in the past.</p>
<p>I think you can sign up for and receive a new credit card on pretty short notice. Might be worth trying --if it doesn’t arrive in time, you just suck it up and pay the hefty fees associated with all the other methods…</p>
<p>Ain’t it just loverly that billions of our tax dollars bailed out the #@!*&^! bankers?? I saw the word “guillotines” mentioned in an article a little while back. The rich keep getting richer and richer and richer, and the rest of us, well…</p>
<p>Lots of good advice, but with all our DC or CC, we have to let them know in advance when we will be out of the country or our charges will be denied. </p>
<p>Airports usually have pretty good exchange rates.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t go with T checks.</p>
<p>Have fun! I was in England at this time last year.</p>
<p>Oh, absolutely, you must let them know where you will be abroad or their fraud units will alert in a flash. Especially if you use the card at home and abroad on the same day. Double especially if you also use it in your departure city. Happened to DH and fortunately I was home to take the fraud alert call and assure them. The issue with TC isn’t really whether every shop or clerk knows how to take them- it’s the quick 'n easy money-back policy if they are lost or stolen. When we’re out and about, we notice who has what rates posted and head there when we need to exchange. Yes, banks are best. Yes, you lose something in the transaction. Go to the Auto Club for free TC.</p>
<p>Definitely good advice about notifying cc of travel abroad. I did indeed do that this morning. As our cc was recently used fraudulently in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, I knew to do this so that my cc wouldn’t be flagged and possibly denied. So I’ve covered that.</p>
<p>We leave in only a few days-I’m delivering my dd to her study abroad semester. I’m happy for her. I would have killed to have this kind of experience during college. </p>
<p>We’re doing a lot of student orientation while I’m there with her, but will have a Sunday free for whatever. Any advice on a day trip? I’m thinking Stonehenge, but am open to superior ideas.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all the feedback-what a great web site this is!</p>
<p>I’ve used credit card/debit card in France, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Spain, and Scotland with never any problems. Never had to dispute a payment. Sometimes the first ATM doesn’t work at all (before you even get to asking for an amount). I haven’t used travelers’ checks for years. There are fees involved in cashing them and the exchange rate is generally less favorable. Some banks will not cash them unless you are customer–kind of a catch 22! I’ve also never had a problem with one of the table-side machines not accepting our card.</p>
<p>Re: your free day in London – Two words: London Walks! [London</a> Walks “first and best of the walking tour firms” Fodors](<a href=“http://www.walks.com/]London”>http://www.walks.com/)</p>
<p>Can’t say enough good things about them. In a day, you could do a few of their walks in London itself, or you could do one of their day trips, called “Explorer Days”. We’ve done some of each - both on a trip hubby and I took back in '86, and the trip we took in 2003 with our two kids. 1986 did The Inns of Court, a Dickens walk, and a trip to Greenwich (which I think was with LW, but may have been on our own) ,and maybe another one.
2003 did a Jack the Ripper one (done by a well known JtheR researcher), Shakespeare’s London, an evening pub walk of literary London (hubby and I only, of course). We took 2 of their day trip Explorer Days - to Bath, and to Royal Richmond & Hampton Court Palace. (both of those were with Richard who wears the red hat – looks like he’s doing other tours these days – he’s awesome! ALL of their guides that we’ve had are VERY good.)</p>
<p>Looking at their schedule and descriptions online REALLY makes me want to go back to England!!</p>
<p>Oh, BTW, Stonehenge can be a bit of a disappointment to many people because you aren’t allowed to enter within the ring of stones, but have to look at it from a fair distance (unless this has changed). Doing it with London Walks would probably be a better experience than just taking a bus or train to Salisbury on your own. (Did that nearly 30 years ago and it didn’t seem worth the long trip. YMMV, of course.)</p>
<p>If you have Bank of America, you can make withdrawals at any Barclay’s ATM without any fees.</p>
<p>uncigrad is correct, Barclay’s has an alliance with BOA, so there is no transaction fee for ATM withdrawals. Barclay’s ATMs are on every block in London. There may still be an exchange fee, however, depending on your account. Again, the best bet is to make purchases at places that allow payment in US$ at the point of sale.</p>
<p>Barclays does not charge a fee at its ATMs. If your home bank does not charge a fee when using the ATM at other banks, then you are home free.</p>
<p>This has worked very well for us in the UK on several trips - great exchange rate and no fees.</p>
<p>Capital One does not charge any foreign exchange fees, so it is great as a credit card.</p>
<p>Trip Advsior is the College Confidential of travel. If you go to their London forum, there will be plenty of advice on this subject.</p>
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There are a couple of coach tour companies that do sunrise or sunset Stonehenge tours where you are allowed to enter the ring of stones. We did a sunset one a couple years back and it was magic. You get there when everyone else is leaving so it is just the people from your tour bus remaining and you get to go inside the ropes and then stay as the sun sets. We were laying on the outer edges taking pictures as the sun was setting. I had gone several years before an a tour where it was mid day and the place was packed and we could not go inside the ropes and it was a little disappointing. This time it was much more than I expected - really Magical.</p>
<p>I have used debit cards all over Europe and never had any problems. Even with fees I have found the debit cards to be a better deal usually as they give you the bank rate while the exchange rates you get for travellers checks are often the tourist rates which are much worse (sometimes about a 10% difference). Also check you debit card to see if your bank is affiliated with one over there which can make the fees lower if you use the affiliated bank’s ATM.</p>
<p>have a fun trip.</p>
<p>Stonehenge is amazing. I was fortunate to be there years ago, when one could still enter the ring. If such an opp exists today, that’s what I’d recc. En route, as you move up the road, suddenly, there it is. Never forget it. Salisbury Cathedral is also impressive and there’s always a trip to Stratford-on-Avon. Ds friend did Skidmore London freshman semster and had the time of her life.</p>
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<p>Wow, that sounds amazing. I’ll look into finding something like that.</p>